Passenger Trains > Cardinal Consist

What is the current consist of the Cardinal?

3-Amfleet II coaches 
1-amfleet cafe car
1-  Viewliner sleeper 
1-Viewliner dormitory -baggage

PCBill
 

Just be aware the windows on this equipment are some of the worst on the system. An inch of dirt/soot. 

bmarti7 Wrote:
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> 3-Amfleet II coaches 
> 1-amfleet cafe car
> 1-  Viewliner sleeper 
> 1-Viewliner dormitory -baggage
>
> PCBill
>

Here is a video taken last weekend in White Sulphur Springs and it only had 2 coaches not 3   The rest of the consist is correct 

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/24 20:32 by amtrakbill.

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amtrakbill Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> bmarti7 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 3-Amfleet II coaches 
> > 1-amfleet cafe car
> > 1-  Viewliner sleeper 
> > 1-Viewliner dormitory -baggage
> >
> > PCBill
> >
>
> Here is a video taken last weekend in White
> Sulphur Springs and it only had 2 coaches not 3  
> The rest of the consist is correct 


Yes, I believe two coaches is correct.

Jim

3rd coach was pre-pandemic and never returned. With Manchin leaving the Senate next December, I don't think it ever will return. 

I keep saying over and over again, the wrong people are in charge of Amtrak.  Think of Amtrak being a service business.  They sell tickets, right?  Certainly they should know what the demand is in general for the people who want to go places on every route.  To me, it's just good common sense to realize that every passenger train should be operated with enough space to handle all the potential riders.  But not the stupid morons running Amtrak.  They would rather have fewer coaches on a train and turn away passengers than to accommodate them.  This way, they get their bonuses every year for saving money.  This is crazy and again, the wrong people are running Amtrak.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

With Coscia reappointed, Gardner as CEO, DOT Buttigieg/Trottenberg sound asleep, and Schumer with his NEC-centric cabal clearly in charge, nothing will change.

What’s a good railcam for the Cardinal?

filmteknik Wrote:
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> What’s a good railcam for the Cardinal?

Covington KY which is about 12 mins east of Cincinnati

Of course it hits that spot in the wee hours in both directions, if on time.

I used to enjoy the Cardinal.  However, my last two trips to Cincy were not enjoyable.  The best scenery in the east is viewed through a film of dirt.  And the fares are high.  It is just not worth it.

And...if anyone from Amtrak is reading, I am on another of my New England to the Southeast trips, of which there are 4-6 a year.  Delta is my choice this trip, not Amtrak.  I will not come back to Amtrak until I know the windows will be reasonably clean and the service delivers.  It may be awhile.  

All the money in the world and service continues to decline...

amtrakbill Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> filmteknik Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What’s a good railcam for the Cardinal?
>
> Covington KY which is about 12 mins east of
> Cincinnati



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/24 08:24 by Chessie1963.

You are doing just what Gardner/Harris want you to do with windows that would make The Munsters proud

Yea, I had that thought.  But what else should we do???  I want value for my money, and Amtrak is not able to deliver value right now, and rational consumers go elsewhere.  Delta and Jet Blue are delivering better value right now, at least for me.

I find it sad, but here we are.

I feel the same way. Many parts of Amtrak are a disgrace and they don't care. 

How often does a Charger pull the CARDINAL?
Andy

I know the Cardinal is a dog of a train.  Slow, dirty, poor food options, etc.  But it does traverse an interesting route especially coming into Chicago.  Plus, these days, are any Amtrak LD trains not dogs...maybe the AutoTrain?

Also, if you are in sleeper, do you have to eat in your room, or do you eat in the "1st class" section of the cafe car?

fulham Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know the Cardinal is a dog of a train.  Slow,
> dirty, poor food options, etc.  But it does
> traverse an interesting route especially coming
> into Chicago.  Plus, these days, are any Amtrak
> LD trains not dogs...maybe the AutoTrain?
>
> Also, if you are in sleeper, do you have to eat in
> your room, or do you eat in the "1st class"
> section of the cafe car?

I think they make you eat in your sleeper, which is really messing up the sleepers' cleanliness. Requires more extensive cleaning when food is eaten in the sleeper compartment, which typically doesn't happen as extensive as it should. The Capitol Limited is prime example. On the Capitol they finally allowed people to take meals in the Superliner Cross Country Cafe - thank God! I hated trying to eat in my bedroom or roomette while travelling eastbound out of Chicago at 79 mph bouncing down the tracks to South Bend while trying to juggle food.

Back to the Cardinal and food service for sleeper passengers.....Hence why any LD train operating with a Viewliner Sleeper needs to have a Viewliner II Diner - even if just using it as a table car and using the Amfleet II Diner Lite car as the sole food service car. Just need two Viewliner II Diners to outfit the Cardinal. Lets hope this happens sooner than later, as well as adding a third Amfleet II coach, as this train travels circuitous mileage with multiple markets......

twropr Wrote:
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> How often does a Charger pull the CARDINAL?
> Andy

Most trips over the last month.. E/816 (P40) went west over a month ago.. Continued on to CA. Then on the return trip in bit the bullet on #6. That was an exception to the rule.

Redacted



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/24 21:10 by lordsigma.

It has got to really tick off sleeper customers who have paid the big bucks not to be able to eat in a real diner. I know I would be real unhappy.